UFC featherweight contender Jean Silva has drawn a new opponent at UFC Noche after former interim champion Yair Rodriguez withdrew Wednesday because of an undisclosed injury.
Silva (17-3) will face Jose Delgado (12-2) on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Rodriguez, 33, confirmed the injury on Wednesday.
"I got injured," Rodriguez wrote on Instagram. "I tried to continue with my training, but in the end I wasn't responsible enough to compete in these conditions. I wanted this fight and I know many of you did too. Now my job is to fully recover and come back prepared to compete at the level you expect from me and that I expect from myself."
Silva, who fights out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, also commented on the change of opponent on social media.
"Never back down," Silva wrote on Instagram. "Same date, same objective."
It's a massive opportunity for the 28-year-old Delgado, who is 4-1 in the UFC with two first-round knockouts. Silva is the UFC's No. 6-ranked featherweight. His only loss came against two-time title challenger Diego Lopes last September.